Author: Ju Eun Song ('25)
Photographer: Mishcka Suwandi ('24)
As seniors think about what they want to study in college, they also need to consider where they want to apply to. Moreover, seniors have to start writing college applications at the beginning of their 12th-grade year. Many students entering high school may have many questions about college applications, so in this article, the BAIS Times reporters interviewed the school’s counselor to clarify the process of applying to colleges.
Photo Courtesy of Mischka Suwandi
Ms. Melissa Hall, the guidance counselor, started off by talking about the three types of colleges a student applies to, which include a target school, a match school, and a safe school.
A target school is a college that may be a bit challenging for the student to get accepted to. In order to get accepted, the student will have to continue to try hard and push themselves to a higher level.
A match school is like a dream school. The students know that the college provides classes they are interested in, and they know that they have a chance of getting accepted.
A safe school is a college where the students are confident they can get accepted. When applying for a safe school the student knows that they are one of the best candidates the school will be receiving. Ms. Hall said, “It is always good to have a safe school because sometimes we are not going to get the best news. It is good to know that you at least have some options to choose from.”
From the many lists of majors and colleges they could choose and apply to, students are often still confused about what steps they should take in high school. Many also question whether they should choose a major or a college first. Ms. Hall replied to this and said, “ It really depends on where you want to study. In some colleges, you may choose to enroll as an undecided major, and other schools will require a decision before enrolling. And it also depends on your future dreams and plans.”
Photo Courtesy of Mischka Suwandi
Applying to colleges and choosing a major is not an easy process. Some colleges require an essay that reflects students’ extracurricular activities, which could reveal that they are interested in a certain major. Meanwhile, other schools may require a specific essay about why a student wants to go to that college. Ms. Hall suggested, “Since students are required to write a lot of essays for applying to a college, sometimes applying to more than ten colleges might not be the best choice. I recommend a student to apply to no more than ten schools just because that's a lot of work.”
Other than the general misconception that students should apply to as many schools as they can, most also have the common misconception that a student needs to have an incredibly high GPA to make an outstanding college application. It is true that a high GPA will increase the chances of getting accepted into a college, but it does not guarantee acceptance. Ms. Hall said, “ It is important for students to balance their academic studies and outside life. Colleges don’t want boring students on their campuses. It is important for students to have a life outside of school like playing sports or having family time.”
Furthermore, some countries like South Korea offer a special application for students that have lived outside the country for at least 12 years. This application is called the “International Admission 2.” When students that qualify for this admission write an application for colleges, the college will take into consideration that the student has been studying outside the country for at least twelve years. For Korean students at BAIS that qualify for this special admission, they are required to take at least one type of English test to prove their fluency. Most often, the TOFEL, SAT, and AP are used to prove a student’s ability in English.
Ms. Hall also pointed out that “students who qualify for the International Admission 2 tend to think that it is easier for them to get accepted into a college. But, this is actually not true. You have to work hard to get accepted, and your qualification for the Internal Admission 2 doesn’t always guarantee your acceptance. ”
Students should also consider taking AP classes- advanced placement classes- in high school to not only boost their college applications but also learn deeper about their interests. AP classes are run by the College Board for high school students who are interested in taking college-level classes. BAIS offers students a variety of AP classes, including AP Literature and Composition, AP Calculus, and many more. AP classes are a good way to deepen students’ interest in a certain topic as they could help students choose what major they want to take. Moreover, some colleges allow students with a certain score on an AP test to skip a class during their freshman year of college. For example, a good score on a Calculus AP test might excuse a student from one math class in college.
But even if the college doesn’t accept APs, it can be a good way to prove a student’s hard work. In some colleges, they will look at how many AP classes were available, and how many the students took. By looking at this, colleges can look into how much that student can meet the college’s requirements.
Another thing students have to consider while writing their college applications is scholarships. Students applying for colleges will be allowed to request a certain amount of scholarships. However, this does not mean that colleges accept the student’s requests all the time.
The college considers the student’s academics and school activities to see if the students fit the school’s requirements. If the school considers the student to be qualified as a scholar student, they will offer scholarships to bring the student to their school.
Although most students look forward to attending college right after graduating high school, some students might choose to take a break- a gap year. A gap year is not about playing all day and wasting time as students can use this time to travel and experience the world or get a job before heading off to college. Other than having the opportunity to gain life experiences, students are able to write these experiences in their college applications.
Ms. Hall said, “Sometimes it is really good for students to take a gap year before college. They might have to travel and experience the world first. There are many programs for students wanting to take a gap year. But the most important thing is to continue the learning process. It is highly recommended to get a hobby or a job and continue being in the habit of learning. This can be used as simple as decorating cakes or even cutting hairs.”
Choosing what tests to take, how many schools to apply to, what type of essays to write, how much scholarship to ask for, and deciding to take a gap year or not, are things a student must choose. Every choice made by the student, including their daily choices, shapes the whole life of a student. Although the college application process is complicated, it is important for students to take the time to plan what they want to do in the future.